Kingdom’s shuttlers thirst for top spot
HK rout puts hosts in Group B pole position
Thailand aim to end the round-robin phase with a perfect record as they take on Taiwan in their final Group B match of the Uber Cup at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, tonight.
The Thai women ensured their place in the quarter-finals after recording their second straight group win on Monday night.
The team, led by world No.4 Ratchanok Intanon, dominated Hong Kong 5-0. They also beat Germany by the same score in Sunday’s opener.
Ratchanok cruised past Chueng Ngan Yi 21-10, 21-16 in the opening singles before doubles specialists Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai defeated Ng Wing Yung and Yeung Nga Ting 21-14, 21-14.
Nitchaon Jindapol beat Chueng Ying Mei 21-12, 21-12 to give Thailand the third point before Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai (doubles) and Busanan Ongbamrungphan (singles) completed the whitewash.
Thailand’s match against Taiwan, who are led by world No.1 Tai Tzu-ying, starts at 7pm tonight.
Taiwan, who beat Hong Kong 4-1 on Sunday, were due to play their second group match against Germany late last night.
“The team have achieved our target of making it through the group phase,” said team manager and president of the Badminton Association of Thailand Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul.
“We have now qualified for the quarter-finals but we will try to beat Taiwan to ensure that we finish as group winners and are among the seeded teams in the quarterfinals,” she added.
“Being a seeded team is very crucial because it looks like the other top teams will all come through the group stage so it’s important we avoid them.”
In the Uber Cup action yesterday, 14-time winners and reigning champions China defeated Malaysia 4-1 while Indonesia dominated France 5-0 as both teams guaranteed their places in the last eight following two successive wins in Group D.
The two teams meet today to decide the
group winners.
South Korea claimed their third successive win after beating Denmark 3-2 to seal the top spot in Group C. Both teams advanced to the last eight.
Japan have already secured their place in the quarters with their second Group A win, a 5-0 victory over Canada, on Monday.
In the Thomas Cup yesterday, holders Denmark, led by top-ranked Viktor Axelsen, outclassed Russia 5-0 while Malaysia beat first-time qualifier Algeria 5-0. The two teams meet today to decide the Group D winners.
In Group C, Japan and Taiwan battle it out for the top spot in Group C today after both teams yesterday won their second matches.